A move from United Kingdom to Venezuela with a dog or cat is mostly about preparing the documents in the right order. Plan on roughly 5-8 weeks; the checklist is clear and the timing is manageable. No routine quarantine applies as long as …
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from United Kingdom to Venezuela
typically takes around 5-8 weeks.
There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets.
A rabies titre test is not required.
Regulations checked
Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team
Step by step
The United Kingdom to Venezuela pet import process
Each step must be completed in a precise sequence. Start early. We manage every stage and deadline.
1
Confirm rabies vaccination is current (within the past year) and the microchip scans correctly.
Responsible: Vet in the UK.
Before applying for the export certificate.
2
Apply for Export Health Certificate 2916 through APHA's online service.
Responsible: Owner, with an Official Veterinarian.
Allow one to two weeks for processing once supporting documents are ready.
3
Book cargo space, checking the current Caracas schedule before committing to dates.
Responsible: Owner or a pet transport agent.
As early as the route allows, then reconfirmed close to travel.
4
Official Veterinarian's clinical exam and certificate signature.
Responsible: Official Veterinarian in the UK.
Within the validity window set out in the current EHC 2916 guidance notes; check the live gov.uk PDF for the exact figure at time of booking.
5
Travel: Heathrow to Bogota, then Bogota to Caracas, on Avianca throughout.
Responsible: Avianca cargo handling.
Once the certificate is signed and within its validity.
6
INSAI clearance and sanitary mobilisation permit (5 UT fee) on arrival.
Responsible: INSAI airport office, with the owner or receiving agent.
On landing at Maiquetia.
Requirements
What your pet needs to enter Venezuela
Every item below must be in place before your pet can travel. We manage and verify each one.
Microchip
Not explicitly required by INSAI's published import checklist, though almost every pet leaving Great Britain already carries one from routine practice, and it makes identity checks at Maiquetia straightforward.
Rabies vaccination
Required. Current anti-rabies vaccination certificate, no more than one year old, presented as original plus a copy.
Rabies titre test
Not required. Venezuela's INSAI does not ask arriving pets from the UK for a rabies titre test.
Quarantine
No routine quarantine for a pet arriving with complete paperwork. INSAI can require further examination, or quarantine at the owner's cost, if the animal appears unwell on arrival.
Import permit
Sanitary mobilisation permit processed at the INSAI office on the third floor of Simon Bolivar International Airport, Maiquetia, with a fee set at 5 Unidades Tributarias (Venezuelan tax units). Confirm the current value of the UT before travel, since it is revised periodically.
Health certificate
International health certificate valid one month, plus the combined vaccination card (Sextuple for dogs, triple for cats) and an internal/external deworming certificate valid three months, all presented as original plus copy.
Export permit (United Kingdom)
No separate export permit for a personal pet leaving Great Britain. The APHA Export Health Certificate 2916 (cats and dogs to Venezuela) is the export document itself.
Costs
What this route typically costs
APHA Export Health Certificate 2916 and the Official Veterinarian's exam: GBP 200-350.
IATA-approved travel crate: GBP 100-300.
Cargo fee, Heathrow to Caracas via Bogota on Avianca throughout: USD 1,500-2,600 depending on crate size.
INSAI sanitary mobilisation permit on arrival: 5 Unidades Tributarias, confirm the current USD or GBP equivalent before travel.
Critical points to read before you book
Caracas international air links have been genuinely unstable through 2026. Copa Airlines suspended its own Caracas service earlier in the year over safety concerns at Maiquetia, and in July 2026 American Eagle and Aeroregional cancelled seven scheduled flights to Miami and Bogota over three consecutive days. Reconfirm cargo capacity with the airline close to your travel date rather than assuming a schedule booked months ahead will hold.
EHC 2916 has been revised before, current version 3, last updated 5 February 2024. Download the live PDF from gov.uk before the vet appointment. An outdated version gets rejected at the application stage.
INSAI's checklist calls for original documents plus a copy of each certificate. Carry physical originals; the RUNSAI portal manages the permit application, it is not a substitute for the paper documents INSAI staff check on arrival.
Airlines
Carriers approved for this route
Not all airlines accept live animals on this route. We know which carriers to use and how to book.
AVIANCA
Avianca
Avianca's own Bogota to London Heathrow route, flight AV121 on the return leg, runs daily on a Boeing 787, then connects onward to Caracas on the same carrier's regional network. This keeps a UK-origin pet with one airline for both international legs instead of an interline handover. Reconfirm live animal cargo space with Avianca Cargo close to departure, since the Caracas end of the schedule has seen repeated disruption through 2026.
Cargo Only
Venezuela entry requirements at a glance
Getting a pet into Venezuela is a middle of the road process. The rules are well defined, so most of the work is simply staying on schedule.
Getting the details right
Microchip before you vaccinate. The microchip must be in place before the rabies shot for the vaccination to count, and getting this order wrong is the most common and costly mistake.
Use an official, government-authorised vet for the health certificate, not just your usual clinic. Many destinations only accept certificates signed by an approved vet.
If this is your first international move, consider an IPATA-registered pet transport agent. They handle the documents, airline booking and crate sizing, and can troubleshoot problems.
Get your pet used to the travel crate weeks in advance. A calm, crate-familiar animal travels far better than one meeting the crate for the first time at the airport.
FAQ
Common questions about United Kingdom to Venezuela pet transport
No. INSAI does not require a titre test for pets arriving from the United Kingdom, only a current rabies vaccination certificate no more than a year old, alongside the standard health and vaccination paperwork.
No non-stop service currently found in research. Avianca’s own Heathrow-Bogota-Caracas routing keeps the journey on a single carrier for both international legs, though Caracas schedules have been unstable through 2026 and should be reconfirmed close to travel.
APHA’s export health certificate for cats and dogs travelling from Great Britain to Venezuela. It is currently version 3, last updated 5 February 2024, and must be completed by an Official Veterinarian. Always check gov.uk for the current version, since an outdated certificate is rejected.
Not routinely, for a pet arriving with complete and correct paperwork. INSAI can require further examination or quarantine, at the owner’s cost, if the animal shows signs of ill health on arrival.
Airline guides
Avianca
Breed guides
Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.
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